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The NEK family of serine/threonine kinases as a biomarker for cancer

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Abstract

Cancer is defined by unrestrained cell proliferation due to impaired protein activity. Cell cycle-related proteins are likely to play a role in human cancers, including proliferation, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. The serine/threonine NEK kinases are the part of Never In Mitosis A Kinases (NIMA) family, which are less explored kinase family involved in the cell cycle, checkpoint regulation, and cilia biology. They comprise of eleven members, namely NEK1, NEK2, NEK3, NEK4, NEK5, NEK6, NEK7, NEK8, NEK9, NEK10, and NEK11, located in different cellular regions. Recent research has shown the role of NEK family in various cancers by perversely expressing. Therefore, this review aimed to provide a systematic account of our understanding of NEK kinases; structural details; and its role in the cell cycle regulation. Furthermore, we have comprehensively reviewed the NEK kinases in terms of their expression and regulation in different cancers. Lastly, we have emphasized on some of the potential NEK inhibitors reported so far.

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The authors are thankful to the Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India, for providing the necessary facilities to carry out this work.

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  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632 014, India

    Nagesh Kishan Panchal & Sabina Evan Prince

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Panchal, N.K., Evan Prince, S. The NEK family of serine/threonine kinases as a biomarker for cancer. Clin Exp Med 23, 17–30 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-021-00782-0

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